A regular Meeting of the Town Board of Guilderland was held at the Town Hall, Route 20 McCormick's Corners, Guilderland, NY, on the above date at 7:30 pm. The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Roll call by Rosemary Centi, Town Clerk, showed the following to be present:
Councilman Redlich
Councilwoman Slavick
Councilman Pastore
Councilman Grimm
Supervisor Runion
ALSO PRESENT: Richard Sherwood, Town Attorney
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Supervisor Runion welcomed everyone to the evening’s meeting and asked for a motion accepting the minutes of the September 2nd, 2008 Town Board meeting.
MOTION #182 Councilwoman Slavick moved to ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 2nd, 2008 TOWN BOARD MEETING. Councilman Pastore seconded the motion and it was carried by the following roll call vote:
Councilman Redlich Abstained
Councilwoman Slavick Aye
Councilman Pastore Aye
Councilman Grimm Aye
Supervisor Runion Aye
Supervisor Runion announced that item #1 on the agenda concerning a presentation by the Capital District Development Disabilities Service Office for a proposed Group Home to be located at 6659 Fuller station Road was tabled until the Office had more information regarding their site plans.
He also reminded everyone of Hazardous Waste Day on September 20th.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD - None
AGENDA ITEMS:
Item #2 on the agenda concerned the appointment of John Macejka, Jr. as Assessor to fill the unexpired term of Carol Wysomski.
Supervisor Runion stated that several candidates had been interviewed and it was his recommendation that Mr. Macejka be appointed.
Councilwoman Slavick outlined Mr. Macejka’s qualifications.
Supervisor Runion mentioned that under Town Law, towns could have either an elected or appointed assessor. The Town had opted a number of years ago to have an appointed position. Mr. Macejka would fill the unexpired 6-year term of retired assessor, Carol Wysomski, which would have five more years to run. He asked for a motion to appoint John Macejka to fill the term.
MOTION #183 Councilwoman Slavick moved to APPOINT JOHN MACEJKA, JR. AS ASSESSOR TO FILL THE UNEXPIRED TERM OF CAROL WYSOMSKI. Councilman Pastore seconded the motion and it was carried by the following roll call vote:
Councilman Redlich Aye - stating that Mr. Macejka’s resume was very strong but that he had a personal bias, not enough to recuse himself, but he really liked Bill Klee, who he had known for a long time. Councilman Redlich further stated that he had asked hardball questions in the interview. He also called John and asked more questions and was given straight answers. He stated that he was very impressed and felt that John would do a great job. He stated that he wanted him to recognize that it was his job, that he
was the independent assessor. Councilman Redlich stated that he would like him to look at the last revaluation and see if there were properties that were not looked at and to use his judgement to make that call.
Councilwoman Slavick Aye - stating that he was experienced, State certified, familiar with the software and that he had worked with other municipalities. She also thanked Carol Wysomski for her many years of service to the Town.
Councilman Pastore Aye - impressed by his appearance before the Town Board as well as his qualifications. He wished him luck in the job.
Councilman Grimm Aye - stating that he had comparable experience having worked for Rotterdam. Councilman Grimm said it was his expectation that Mr. Macejka would be fair and professional. He further stated that John could contact him at any time.
Supervisor Runion Aye - stating that John had a very difficult time in Rotterdam having done the first revaluation ever.
Supervisor Runion further stated reassessments were never an easy process.
He stated that all of the properties in the Town of Guilderland had been re-assessed in the last revaluation and all of the properties had been examined and reassessed in every revaluation since the 1980’s and that any statements by board members stating anything to the contrary were unfair and untrue.
Supervisor Runion further stated that John would do an excellent job and they looked forward to his serving as Assessor and to his moving into the Town of Guilderland.
Supervisor Runion also thanked Carol Wysomski for her 37 years of service to the Town.
Carol served under a number of administrations both Republican and the last administration a Democratic one. She has always done the job well, has always been fair and approachable and her office has always been there to answer any questions.
He thanked the Assessor’s office for keeping the office running smoothly. He further stated that the Assessor’s office has always been proactive, working with other departments such as the Senior office for notification of STAR exemptions and also homeowners reminding them to get their STAR applications in. They have always done an excellent job of data collection and in keeping it current.
He again thanked both Carol and John.
MOTION #184 Councilwoman Slavick moved to ESTABLISH THE SALARY FOR THE POSITION OF TOWN ASSESSOR AT $53,500.00 PER YEAR. Councilman Pastore seconded the motion and it was carried by the following roll call vote.
Councilman Redlich Aye
Councilwoman Slavick Aye
Councilman Pastore Aye
Councilman Grimm Aye
Supervisor Runion Aye
Item #3 on the agenda concerned approving a water service connection at the request of John Van Wormer, 100 Deer Path Lane, with the Town of Princetown.
Supervisor Runion explained that there were a dozen or so residents that have asked to connect to the Town of Princetown water system in the west end of town where town water could not be provided.
The Town of Guilderland has to approve the outside user agreement. If, for some reason, the water tax is not paid, the amount gets assessed onto the town tax as a lien against the property.
Princetown is imposing conditions for certain services that Mr. Van Wormer stated he is aware of and agrees to.
MOTION #185 Councilman Pastore moved to APPROVE THE WATER SERVICE CONNECTION OF JOHN VAN WORMER, AT 100 DEER PATH LANE WITH THE TOWN OF PRINCETOWN. Councilwoman Slavick seconded the motion and it was carried by the following roll cal vote:
Councilman Redlich Aye
Councilwoman Slavick Aye
Councilman Pastore Aye
Councilman Grimm Aye
Supervisor Runion Aye
Item #4 on the agenda concerned a request to name a private road located off of County Line Road.
Eric Almond, Scotia, stated they owned 12 acres of land in the area and that the road had always been known as Almond Lane.
He further stated that they have always maintained the road and placed signs on the property. There had been a formal street sign designating it as Almond Lane that was torn down.
He further stated that neighbors could attest to the sign being there. The destruction of the sign had been reported to the police department.
Almond Lane has also been recognized by JIMAPCO and he has Guilderland maps from 1991 and 1986 that show the lane as Almond Lane.
Carol Wysomski, former assessor, stated that the lane would have been called Almond Lane in 1996 if there had been houses on the property.
Further discussion was held.
MOTION #186 Supervisor Runion moved THAT BASED ON WHAT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED BY ERIC ALMOND,WHCH IS TWO MAPS INDICATING THAT THE PRIVATE LANE WAS PREVIOUSY DESIGNATED AS ALMOND LANE AND ALSO, BASED ON HIS TESTIMONY HERE THIS EVENING THAT THERE WAS A STREET SIGN THAT APPEARS OR WAS DESCRIBED TO BE A STREET SIGN THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN ERECTED BY THE TOWN AT SOME TIME THAT WAS A GREEN SIGN WITH WHITE LETTERS THAT INDICATED ALMOND LANE AND THAT THE ALMOND FAMILY CONTINUES TO OWN PROPERTY ABUTTING THE EASEMENT THAT RUNS OFF OF COUNTY LINE ROAD AND ALSO FROM THE EVIDENCE SUBMITTED BY A DEED IN WHICH THE GRANTOR WAS MARGARET CARTER, SISTER OF LUTHER ALMOND AND ALSO JIMAPCO’S RECOGNITION OF THE LANE AS ALMOND LANE, I WOULD NAME THE PRIVATE LANE OFF OF COUNTY LINE ROAD AS ALMOND LANE. Councilman
Redlich seconded the motion and it was carried by the following roll call vote:
Councilman Redlich Aye - for reasons mentioned by the Supervisor and also it was his recollection that when Mr. Hoelzli appeared before the Town Board at a prior meeting he wanted it named something and he was comfortable with Almond Lane. He also stated that the lack of notification was the fault of the Town Board and not Mr. Hoelzli’s.
Councilwoman Slavick Aye - based on Supervisor’s comments and based on the minutes of a previous meeting stating that Mr. Hoelzli would be in agreement with Almond Lane.
Councilman Pastore Aye
Councilman Grimm Recused himself
Supervisor Runion Aye - reiterated that the notification was on the Board to provide. Information needed to be verified. He apologized for the inconvenience to the family.
Supervisor Runion reminded everyone of the September 23d budget-hearing meeting.
MOTION #187 Councilman Redlich moved to ADJOURN THE SEPTEMBER 16TH, 2008 TOWN BOARD MEETING AT 8:25 PM. Councilwoman Slavick seconded the motion and it was carried by the following roll call vote:
Councilman Redlich Aye
Councilwoman Slavick Aye
Councilman Pastore Aye
Councilman Grimm Aye
Supervisor Runion Aye
Respectfully submitted,
Rosemary Centi, RMC
Town Clerk
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